Marc Bekoff. 2005. Animal Passions and Beastly Virtues
Marc Bekoff, an advisor at Practical Ethics, has a new book out! Congratulations Marc.
Here is what Publishers Weekly (Dec) has to say about it…
Animal behaviorist, ecologist and ethicist Bekoff (Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior) presents a lengthy compilation of scientific papers and articles from journals like Scientific American on a range of subjects that, remarkably, coheres into a fascinating “big-picture view of animals, culture, and society.” Bekoff’s writings focus primarily on the science of cognitive ethology, on what animals think, feel and know and most of the articles study the behavior of dogs; one of the most interesting pieces looks at the sounds and smells that can trigger primary emotions, such as innate fear, in canines. Overall, this collection serves as an excellent summation of the major theme of Bekoff’s many books: “with hard work, we can make Earth a better place for all beings,” primarily because of engaging introductory essays that connect five sections on animal emotions, social behaviors and ethics. These essays not only explain his concern for how humans “redecorate” nature by using animals for their own purposes but also achieve his goal of appealing to academic and popular audiences though his “musings” on science, social responsibility and “who we are in the grand scheme of things.”
Jane Goodall says…‘Animal Passions and Beastly Virtues is a book for scientists and nonscientists alike.The writing is clear so that even complex subjects can be readily understood by the general public. Marc has the courage of his convictions and is an excellent spokesman for animals. He has learned so much from watching animals and empathizing with them, and by publishing this collection of essays, he hopes to share this knowledge with as many people as possible. I will share Animal Passions and Beastly Virtues with colleagues and friends around the world’.
The back-jacket describes the book in the following way.
‘What is it really like to be a dog? Do animals experience emotions like pleasure, joy, and grief ? Marc Bekoff’s work draws world-wide attention for its originality and its probing into what animals think about and know as well as what they feel, what physical and mental skills they use to live successfully within their social community. Bekoff’s work, whether addressed to scientists or the general public, demonstrates that investigations into animal thought, emotions, self-awareness, behavioral ecology, and conservation biology can be compassionate as well as scientifically rigorous.
In Animal Passions and Beastly Virtues, Bekoff brings together essays on his own ground-breaking research and on what scientists know about the remarkable range and flexibility of animal behavior. His fascinating and often amusing observations of dogs, wolves, coyotes, prairie dogs, elephants, and other animals playing, leaving and detecting scent-marks (”yellow snow”), solving problems, and forming friendships challenge the idea that science and the ethical treatment of animals are incompatible.
MARC BEKOFF is a Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has published numerous books including The Smile of a Dolphin, Minding Animals, The Ten Trusts (with Jane Goodall), and the Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior. His homepage is http://literati.net/bekoff. He and Jane Goodall co-founded Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, http://www.ethologicalethics.org.
The book is part of a wonderful series on Animals, Culture and Society edited by Arnold Arluke and Clinton Sanders, and published by Temple University Press. It can be purchased on the web or in bookstores across North America and Europe.
Marc Bekoff. 2005. Animal Passions and Beastly Virtues: Reflections on Redecorating Nature. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. 344 pp $26.95 paper.
William Lynn :: Dec.01.2005 :: Environmental Studies, Ethics, Human-Animal Studies :: No Comments »